Neotel has appointed Tellumat Radio Communications as the sole supplier of microwave radio links that will help power the second national operator`s fixed-line network.
<B>Neotel contracts to date:</B>
Siemens Telecommunications (later reinvented as Nokia Siemens Networks): The IP core, IP network management system and metro dense wavelength division multiplexing components of the Neotel network.
Juniper: Siemens will provide the IP core network based on Juniper Networks M- and T-series routers.
Motorola: Radio frequency planning for the CDMA and WiMax network.
Dimension Data and Cisco: These companies will provide the metro Ethernet portion.
Huawei: Preferred supplier of core network infrastructure and the associated services, including the soft switches and associated network equipment.
The value of the deal was not disclosed. However, Tellumat managing executive Geoff Carey says the three-year contract is substantial. Even a mature network like Telkom typically requires in excess of 500 links per annum; a new network is likely to have a much bigger need, he says.
Carey says the contract includes radio planning, design and development of equipment, installation and maintenance of microwave radio links for the entire Neotel network.
Tellumat will locally design and produce HighReach Digital Radio to satisfy the low-to-medium capacity link requirements (up to 70Mbps), the company says in a media statement. This task makes up 75% of the contract.
The balance of the requirement is for high-capacity links and these will be imported until the company has extended its product family to include high-capacity links.
Carey says the company will also perform the radio planning and provide services such as installation and commissioning of the links for the interconnect-backhaul component of the network roll-out.
It will also provide ongoing maintenance and support services for the entire life span of Tellumat products, he says.
Neotel confirmed the awarding of the contract. However, the second national operator was unable to comment at the time of publication.
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Signed, sealed, almost delivered
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